Rochdale (H) League One, 2 January 3pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

Keith Hill brings his Rochdale side to the Bezzla this Saturday hoping to get more joy than the reverse fixture provided back in August, when we came away with 3 points courtesy of a 1-2 win (goals from Andy Taylor and Sam Mantom). One familiar face in their side should be Oliver Lancashire (No. 6). Rochdale are currently mid-table (13th) with 31 points and a goal difference of +2 (29 scored, 27 conceded in their 23 games), and they're one of very few teams never to have played a season in the top two tiers of English football. Current form appears to be very hit-and-miss.......

24 Nov Gillingham (A) League One, Lost 2-0
28 Nov Port Vale (H) League One, Won 2-1
6 Dec Bury (H) F.A. Cup 2nd round, Lost 0-1
12 Dec Swindon Town (A) League One, Lost 2-1
19 Dec Colchester United (H) League One, Won 3-1
28 Dec Scunthorpe United (A) League One, Drew 1-1

Every match we have at present leads me to think "we can't possibly maintain this kind of form", and then they do just that!! At the moment we've won the last five consecutive League One games (when did that last happen?) and judging purely on League One position and current form we should be able to extend that against the 'Dale. It's also worth bearing in mind that practically four of those wins have been achieved without the services of our leading scorer - this team is quite capable of finding the net from all sources (bar Etheridge). What is certain is that a Walsall win will see us maintain our position at the top of the table, unless Burton Albion manage to put more than ten goals in Blackpool's net....... :wink:

Sean O'Driscoll's team selection may still be influenced by the injury situation, but there is always the thought that there needn't be a mad dash to throw Bradshaw, Henry and Taylor back into the fray when the squad demonstrates its ability to cover for them. I'll go for a solid 2-0 win, with goals from Sawyers and Cook.

[tinned]

Hoping to make my first match since the Shrewsbury game after my recent illness. Have hated missing games!

Praise due to the club for allowing me to swap my season ticket seat for a few games.

I'm confident of a fairly relaxed home win.

[coop63]

If the boys are up for this one (not what you'd call an attractive fixture is it) then I'd expect a good result - certainly as others have posted, their seems to be a very professional approach to everything this team does so I hope for the same again..

3-1 -this clean sheet record can't go on for much longer surely :o

If Tom gets back for a start it'll be interesting to see SOD's team selection and formation..

5012 (300 odd from the Dale)

UTS

[Big Dave wfc]

These games cannot come around quick enough at the moment, I believe it will be a tough game, dale are usually very hard working and organised, always been impressed by Peter vincenti and Ian Henderson, good players.

I'm very unsure with sod formation, I like two up top at home but we're does Sawyers play? I don't think the diamond can be used regular as it makes us narrow and particularly Taylor got exposed on Monday.

I seen a tweet from sexy tom saying he can't wait for Saturday so maybe that's an indication of his progress.

I'll go for another 2-0 win with Milan and Evans scoring.

Hope we get a decent crowd these guys deserve the towns support.

[Well-bRed]

At the moment we've won the last five consecutive League One games (when did that last happen?)

April/May 2005 we finished the season with 5 straight wins.
Last time we won six consecutive League one games was 96/97!!!
I'll go for 2-1 Saturday with Milan and Morris on target.

[Exile]

At the moment we've won the last five consecutive League One games (when did that last happen?)

April/May 2005 we finished the season with 5 straight wins.
I'll go for 2-1 Saturday with Milan and Morris on target.

A propos of nothing, yours is one of the best new usernames registered in years. :D

[Louise]

Keep the momentum going and with maybe a Bradshaw return ,got to be victory 2-0. We are playing glorious football so keep it up.Hope to see you Tinned,have missed you.Def not the same without you.

[tinned]

Hope to see youse Tinned,have missed you.Def not the same without you.

Thanks Louise. Probably won't see you Satutrday, the club have agreed to let me move to another stand. Those stairs are a bit too steep for the time being :oops:

[martkrugeleysaddler]

Hope to see youse Tinned,have missed you.Def not the same without you.

Thanks Louise. Probably won't see you Satutrday, the club have agreed to let me move to another stand. Those stairs are a bit too steep for the time being :oops:

Your nominated replacement remains under lock and key at home.

[JonnyOwen]

2-0 win, 6 wins on the spin...

Etheridge
Demetriou
Preston (if Downing is injured)
O'Connor
Taylor (Because Rochdale are a team of giants and Rico is 3'5)
Chambers
Evans
Sawyers
Forde
Bradshaw
Lalkovic

If things aren't working second half go two up top. Quite confident.

[windowman]

Hoping to make my first match since the Shrewsbury game after my recent illness. Have hated missing games!

Praise due to the club for allowing me to swap my season ticket seat for a few games.

I'm confident of a fairly relaxed home win.

hope your well soon fella

[Mazza01]

would love to sit back and enjoy a comfortable 3-0 but that won't happen.

Every game is tough at the top I'll go 2-1 Walsall... Forde and Evans

UTS

[BathSaddler]

A 3-2 win, coming back from 1-0 down, with Sawyers [2] and Lalkovic getting the winner, in front of 4,835, including 320 'Dale.

[tinned]

Hoping to make my first match since the Shrewsbury game after my recent illness. Have hated missing games!

Praise due to the club for allowing me to swap my season ticket seat for a few games.

I'm confident of a fairly relaxed home win.

hope your well soon fella

Cheers mate. Getting there.

[gerryhatrick]

Cook starts, ahead of Bradshaw.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Starting line-up against Rochdale:

Etheridge

Demetriou
Downing
O'Connor
Taylor

Forde
Chambers
Evans
Lalkovic

Sawyers
Cook

Substitutes: Roberts, Mantom, Bradshaw, Henry, Preston, Morris, Kinsella

[Welsh_Saddler]

Elsewhere, a very early goal sees Oldham Athletic take the lead at home to Colchester United, 1-0


And after 2 minutes, Rochdale score........ 0-1 :( :(

Gillingham 2 Bradford City 0 (11 min) :(

Crewe Alexandra 0 Coventry City 1 :( :(

Barnsley 1 Millwall 0

[Whaleoilbeefhooked]

Shakey start it seems.

Was it an error for their goal?

[Sadders]

SOD got away with this narrow formation against Posh. It won't work. Henry and Bradshaw on at HT please.

Sounds like they could be 3 up already.

[Welsh_Saddler]

Shakey start it seems.

Was it an error for their goal?

According to BBC report, it was a Henderson shot from outside the box to the bottom left corner.....

[Welsh_Saddler]

Sheffield Utd 1 Peterborough Utd 1 (30 min)

This game becomes more and more important looking at what all our rivals are doing..... :?

Scunthorpe 1 Wigan Athletic 1 (35 min)

Crewe 0 Coventry 4 now (44 min) :shock:

Chesterfield 3 Sloppies 0

Southend 0 Doncaster Rovers 1

Burton Albion down to 10 men at home to Blackpool..... still 0-0 at present.

[Guest]

ONE shot so far to their six!

[Welsh_Saddler]

ONE shot so far to their six!

... and that was off target!! Of Rochdale's six, four were accurate.

Half-time and it's 0-1. Time for S O'D to work his magic, because surely if Tom and Rico are fit enough to be on the bench they should be introduced for the second half. No :?:

[SaddlerSteve]

Not at the office today.
Lucky to only be one down.
Changes required at half time.

[Guest]

ONE shot so far to their six!

... and that was off target!! Of Rochdale's six, four were accurate.

Half-time and it's 0-1. Time for S O'D to work his magic, because surely if Tom and Rico are fit enough to be on the bench they should be introduced for the second half. No :?:

Does SOD have a plan B?

[Welsh_Saddler]

ONE shot so far to their six!

... and that was off target!! Of Rochdale's six, four were accurate.

Half-time and it's 0-1. Time for S O'D to work his magic, because surely if Tom and Rico are fit enough to be on the bench they should be introduced for the second half. No :?:

Does SOD have a plan B?

I hope so, because on the strength of the first-half performance he doesn't have a Plan 'A' .......

[SWS1]

I said to my bro, perhaps 'Dale are too rubbish for us to beat them like we have the good teams. Seems to be coming true :roll: but, equally, 'Dale don't seem to be that bad :shock: so perhaps we'll win in the end :mrgreen: .


First prize for twisted logic to:

SWS1

Of course :mrgreen:

[Welsh_Saddler]

Early second half goal at Bramall Lane.... Sheffield Utd 1 Peterborough 2

Cook was injured just before half-time, and Kieron Morris has replaced him to start the second half.

[PINNACLE]

ONE shot so far to their six!

... and that was off target!! Of Rochdale's six, four were accurate.

Half-time and it's 0-1. Time for S O'D to work his magic, because surely if Tom and Rico are fit enough to be on the bench they should be introduced for the second half. No :?:

Does SOD have a plan B?

I hope so, because on the strength of the first-half performance he doesn't have a Plan 'A' .......

And so it begins :roll:
Fickle fans ?

[Guest]

ONE shot so far to their six!

... and that was off target!! Of Rochdale's six, four were accurate.

Half-time and it's 0-1. Time for S O'D to work his magic, because surely if Tom and Rico are fit enough to be on the bench they should be introduced for the second half. No :?:

Does SOD have a plan B?

I hope so, because on the strength of the first-half performance he doesn't have a Plan 'A' .......

63% possession and one shot (off target) give me that old 'tippy-tappy' feeling.